The NFL betting playoffs continue this weekend and all eyes have shifted towards the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta gained this newfound attention by manhandling the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense this past weekend, holding the Los Angeles Rams to just 13 points. Now Atlanta, the NFC’s 6th seed, is set to travel to Philadelphia and face the top-seeded Eagles. What will football betting sites have to say about this postseason battle of the birds?
NFC Divisional Round – Falcons vs. Eagles – Saturday, Jan. 13th
- Start Time: 4:35 pm ET
- Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- TV Broadcast: Fox
- Online Stream: Fox Sports Go, NFL Game Pass
- NFL Betting Lines:
- Atlanta Falcons -3 (-110) 41 (-110) -155
- Philadelphia Eagles +3 (-110) 41 (-110) +135
Unsurprisingly, the Falcons are pegged as the favorites in this matchup. This pairing was fairly easy to predict, considering that the Eagles will be without Carson Wentz. Before Wentz went down with an ACL tear, the second-year player was on his way to an MVP season. Nick Foles is the man stepping in for the sidelined Wentz. But considering what the Falcons’ defense just did to the Rams’ top-scoring offensive unit, will Foles really be able to outscore Matty Ice?
By the Numbers
From what we’ve seen out of Foles this season, NFL betting fans shouldn’t expect too much this weekend. While the backup may be sitting on 5 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions during his time filling in for Wentz, Foles also has a 79.5 passer rating. Additionally, in Week 17, versus the Dallas Cowboys, Foles was held to a 36.4 completion percentage, 1 interception, and a pathetic 9.3 passer rating. Considering that was the last we saw of Foles, online sportsbook bettors should definitely stick with the Falcons on this one.
Comparatively, Matt Ryan, the reigning MVP, has been having a pretty great season. Moreover, Ryan is coming off a tremendous performance against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams finished the regular season ranked 13th against the pass, so seeing Ryan have a great outing is reassuring. The Falcons quarterback finished the day with 218 yards, 1 touchdown, and a 101.8 passer rating.
Online Sportsbook Prediction
While Ryan may be coming off a great outing against the Rams, having a similar day against the Eagles’ defensive unit won’t be a walk in the park. Philadelphia finished the year with the 4th best defense in the NFL, as well as the No. 1 defense against the run. If the Eagles are able to take away the run game this Sunday, they’ll effectively place all the weight on Ryan’s shoulders. While the reigning MVP may have the moniker ‘ice’ frequently attached to his name, we didn’t exactly see a cool Ryan under pressure during last year’s Super Bowl. In short, the Eagles path to victory lies in stuffing the run, placing pressure on Ryan, and then going after him with Philly’s superior pass rush. Considering the above listed odds, bettors might want to take Philly on this one.